The Moberly Police Department will be hosting a Junior Police Academy from June 17 through June 21 of this year.

“It’s kind of a new thing this year,” said Officer Roger Christy, Jr., with the MPD. “I’ve heard from many people in the community that we used to do something like this a long time ago. We’re just now bringing that back.”

Per MPD release, “the academy is open to fourth and fifth graders for the 2012-13 school year.” It goes from 5:30 to 8 p.m., each day. Graduation from the program will be celebrated on Saturday, June 22, starting at 12 noon. The academy takes place at the Moberly Police Department (300 N. Clark St.), itself.

The purpose of the academy, says the release, is to “give students an inside look at law enforcement as well as gain a better understanding of enforcement operations.” Participants will be taking part in classroom presentations “combined with hands-on exposure to provide participants with a well-rounded experience.”

“During the summer, kids kind of run amok,” Christy said. “We want to instill in them what we do as officers in general. Personally, I want to instill morals into them — to teach them certain things.”

Academy applications can be picked up at the MPD, and should be completed and returned to said locale (at the address previously listed). The program is free, but the release notes that they have limited spaces open, so students need to sign up quickly. The deadline to have completed applications returned to the MPD is May 31.

“I want to keep it down to 16 [participants],” Christy said. “It’s new to me, so we’re trying to get it up and running.”

Further questions should be directed to Officer Christy, at 660-263-0346, or at rchristy@moberlypd.com.

“It’s kind of life lessons in general,” Christy said, of the program’s set-up. “It just happens to be with the police.”